My capstone app, or why journalism has not lost all its appeal

I realized this college thing won't last forever when I applied to my journalism capstone course. I realized this dance-around-and-see-what-career-we-land-on thing won't last forever when I got accepted to the class at my J-school. I also realized that, at its core, I don't dislike journalism. Maybe this class will fan my flame; only next semester will tell. Below is my application letter for my capstone:

Last summer I interviewed a woman who creates jewelry. The article was budgeted to be an eight-inch profile, about a Hinsdale resident who started her own business. Not so simple. Her brother died less than two months ago at age 23 from Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. The woman now hopes to donate a portion of her jewelry proceeds to and have a benefit for Ewing's Sarcoma research. If I hadn't asked her about her family, she never would have told me her story.

On that day, I realized journalism is bigger than reporting news. Journalism is the business of showing the world why each of us, individually and collectively, matters. That’s the fuel behind my fire for journalism.

Three weeks ago, my flame flickered. I opened a letter from my parents and a single newspaper clipping fluttered out. It was from our local paper, the one where I served as an intern and wrote the jewelry-maker story. Dear Reader, it began. The letter detailed the rationale behind a recent editorial decision. The paper was shifting from a bi-weekly to a weekly publication. The content that would no longer see newsprint would be posted online.

I’ve encountered the “changing face of journalism” since Career Explorations in Journalism class during my first semester at Mizzou, but I never understood what it had to do with me. Certainly, I reasoned, there will always be print newspapers and I can always write for them. Leave the online stuff to the convergence students and computer nerds.

The newspaper clipping was a wake-up call. The way we consume news is changing on a bigger level than I imagined, and it is our responsibility as students at the Missouri School of Journalism to imagine the future of journalism and put it into action. In just a few short years, we’ll be the ones writing the Dear Reader clips and making choices about how we give our readers the content they need, the content that tells them they matter.

As a student in the Mighty Mo class, I will bring my best to the table every day. My practical experience at five publications includes student papers and a division of the Chicago Sun-Times. As a Mighty Mo student, I’ll contribute my understanding of publications large and small.

I will contribute a developed understanding of the ins and outs of Columbia’s city council. Since my first day as a Public Life reporter, I’ve remained on top of local government and I’m not afraid to ask our lawmakers the hard questions.

My business knowledge brings a new dimension to the table. I am simultaneously pursuing a degree in Marketing and I view the financial community with an inquisitive eye.

The Mighty Mo class would be a welcome challenge to me as I complete my Missouri education. I often call my business degree my “black sheep major,” and it is evident to all that I prefer journalism. In a semester full of business courses, the Mighty Mo class is something I truly look forward to sinking my teeth into.

I will bring an insatiable desire for learning. My drive and motivation are contagious. Working with a team motivates me even further, and I thrive in a collaborative setting. I eagerly anticipate this challenge and would be honored to take part in this capstone course.